Perseverance

As with many people there are days when the aspiring entrepreneur in me gets completely despondent over the news of gas and food prices rising,  people are still insecure about their jobs,  along with all that sterling silver prices are on the rise.  I begin to question myself.  How am I, as is an artist, going  to create a successful business?  What kind of changes can I make to keep a positive drive towards that success?  

All I am sure of is that there is a deep passion that resides with in me that doesn’t want to give up.  No matter how bleak the news can be , something ignites with in pushing me forward.

It comes down to a combination of Faith and Perseverance.  At every sale this summer my customers really appreciated and loved my work.  Although they didn’t always purchase something many took the time to make sure I knew that my work is beautiful, creative, unique and fresh.  One woman who purchased a Sterling Silver Flower Petals necklace told me “Never stop doing your passion,  your art is beautiful”.   Hearing these compliments reminded me to continue to have faith in my work.  I must persevere, continue to play with design, allow myself to make mistakes and to grow from them.  I will silence the voices of self doubt, turn off the depressing news stories, focus on being positive and continue to nourish my passion and BE an artist of ornamentation.

Mimosa's and Modeling

It was a perfect September day.  The sun was shining, temperatures were in the upper seventies, and there was a light breeze blowing.    My good friend and the creative artist behind Gold Hoax, Megan Burns and I decided to enjoy an afternoon with Mimosa's and become creative photographers and models for Aprilierre's jewelry .   Neither one of us consider modeling our strength.  In fact both of us usually abhor the idea of being in front of the camera.  However, we decided to be brave and model the jewelry ourselves.  We put together some cute outfits and and coordinated pieces to go with them.  Taking turns with my fushia Sony 12.1 mega pixl camera we set little scenes and simply had fun with our imaginations. 

  These may not showcase the jewelry as much as I'd like but that is just a technicality at this point.  For me it was more about the process.  I took an active approach to show my jewelry in a different way.  The photos,  just like the jewelry I create, keep evolving as my skills continue to grow.  They will just keep getting better. 

My Love Affair with Lipstick

I first became infatuated with lipstick when I was three years old.  I remember my mother’s wooden makeup box, the interior lined with black velvet. It hosted a sparse collection of shimmery powders, brushes and two lipsticks.  Oh how I longed to put on the bright orange and deep rose shades.  My mother very rarely wore lipstick and I knew it was a special occasion when she would smooth rich color upon her lips.   

A few years later I remember spending a day with my Dad who at that time owned a tree trimming business.  He would occasionally take my younger sister and me along. We would climb trees, help gather branches and explore our new “playground”.  It was always quite the excursion.  This particular yard happened to have a tree house that my sister and I had always dreamed of and we eagerly climbed up into it.   There I discovered the greatest treasure of all.  A whole box full of tiny mini lipsticks in every color one could imagine.  My nine year old self was in heaven.  Although I knew it was wrong because they didn’t belong to me, I couldn’t resist trying on at least one color.  

I gazed upon the array of reds, bronzes, pinks, and oranges.  I immediately aimed for a daring bright crimson red.  My sister chimed in “We will get in trouble.”  I held the tiny tube in the palm of my hand...it beckoned me.  Finally temptation over took my reason and I put on the red lusciousness slowly following the curve of my lip.   Then I reached for a pink... then an orange.  I was hooked.  I couldn’t control myself.  I needed to try every color and feel it’s soft silkiness upon my lips.  I didn’t do a very good job cleaning up the evidence of my lipstick revelry,  most likely looking like a circus clown from a nightmare.  My mother was less than thrilled and made sure I saw in the mirror just how silly I looked.  Clearly I would have to work on my application technique.    I wouldn’t be allowed to wear it until high school.

I have since built quite the extensive collection of Mac Lipstick (my personal favorite).  It was no accident that my designers created Aprilierre’s logo to feature a Glamour girl sporting bright red lips.  I believe a woman should have simple little indulgences that immediately brightens her mood.  For me that is reaching for a trusted favorite shade of lipstick or the excitement of trying a new color for the first time.  

Sometimes jewelry is a little indulgence that makes a woman feel special.  As a jewelry artist, I love to create a piece that will become a notable item in a woman’s collection, be it something simplistic that can be worn as her everyday  jewelry or that unique piece she excitedly brings out for a special occasion.  I am so delighted with the thrill a customer expresses when she finds in my collection her perfect piece of jewelry, as personal as if it were made with her in mind by the artist wearing red lipstick.